Wheeled scraper.



J. H. GERBER.- WHBBLED SURAPER.

APPLICATION FILED. NOV. 15, 1909.

Patented J an. 3, 1911.

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J. H GERBER. WHEELED SGRAPER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1909.

Y Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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WHEELED SOBAPER.

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APPLIOATIO N FILED NOV. 15, 1909.

Patented Ja.1 1.3,1911.

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inventor.

J. H. GERBER.

WHEELED SGRAPER.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.15, 1909.

Patented Jan.3,1911.

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J. H. GERRER.

WHEELED SGRAPBR.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.15, 1909.

Patented Jan. 3, 191.1.

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UNITE SATS 'r OFFICE.

JOHN H. GERBER, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO MANEYMANUFACTUR- ING- COMPANY, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

VJ'HEELED SCRAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J 0111* H. GERBER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at East St. Louis, in the county of St. Clair andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWVheeled Scrapers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification.

My invention relates to a scraper for use in gathering earth andconveying it from one point to another, the invention having for itsobject the production of a machine of this character whereby the earthgathering pan may be readily controlled by an operator riding upon themachine in a manner to provide for the proper presentation of the pan tothe ground in gathering a load, for the lifting of the pan after theload has been secured, for the dumping of the load, and for the returnof the pan to load receiving position. Also to provide means whereby theend gate of the scraper pan is automatically locked in a closed positionwhen the pan is lowered to dirt receiv ing position and unlocked whenthe pan is elevated for dumping act-ion. Also, to furnish the scraperwith detail structural features whereby. its operation is made moreefficient.

Figure I is a side elevation of the scraper, with the wheels at the nearside omitted and the axle shown in cross section. Fig. II is an enlargedperspective view of a hook employed for the connection to the main frameof the means by which the rear end of the scraper pan is supported. Fig.III is a rear elevation of the scraper, with the scraper pan elevated,one of the clutches at the rear ground wheels being shown in section.Fig. IV is-an enlarged partial rear elevation of the scraper with thepan in lowered position. Fig. V is an enlarged longitudinal sectionthrough the rear portion of the scraper. Fig. VI is an enlarged I view,partly in plan, and partly in horizonv tal section, of the rear axle, afragment of one of the ground wheels and the clutch associated with saidground wheel and axle. Fig. VII is an enlarged rear elevation of thescraper pan and the end gate locking device. Fig. VIII is an enlargedside elevation of the clutch associated with the winding shaft. Fig. IXis a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of the clutch shownin Fig. VIII.

The running gear of the scraper includes a pair of rear ground wheels 1,a pair of forward steering ground Wheels 2, axles 3 and 1 to which saidrear and forward ground wheels are respectively ournaled and side beams5 that are suitably connected to the forward axles and are supported attheir rear ends by posts 6 mounted upon the rear axle 3.

7 is an operators seat that is supported in such position that variouslevers, to be hereinafter described and by which the mechanism of thescraper is placed under control of the operator, may be readily actuatedby the operator while riding upon the seat.

Each of the rear ground wheels has rigidly fitted to it a toothed clutchmember 8, (see Figs. III and VI), that is adapted to receive a toothedclutch member 9 slidably mounted upon the rear axle and provided with adriving wheel 10 and with a shifter receiving collar 11 that receives ashifter band 12.

13 are operating rods having arms 14 connected to the shifter collars12.

15 is a hand lever pivoted at 16 to the rear axle and to which theoperating rods 13 are connected, in a manner to be hereinafterexplained, at opposite sides of the point of pivotal support of thelever, in order that the operating rods may be operated simultaneouslyfor the purpose of moving the clutch members 9 relative to the groundwheel clutch members 8.

17 is a foot keeper bar that is pivoted at 18 to a member of the runninggear, preferably one of the posts 6. This keeper bar extendshorizontally and transversely of the hand lever 15 and its free end islocated beneath the operators seat in order that it may be readilydepressed by the operator placing his foot thereupon. The keeper bar isprovided with a notch 19 that is adapted to receive the engagement of acatch pin 20 carried by the hand lever 15 and connected to the keeperbar by links 20 united to the keeper bar by a pivot pin 20 (see Figs.III and IV). The keeper bar is normally sustained in a position beneathsaid catch pin by a lift spring 21 that connects it to the hand lever.This construction provides for the seating of the catch pin 20 in thenotch in the keeper bar when the hand lever is moved for the purpose ofseparating the clutch members 9 from the clutch members 8 and wherebysaid parts are held with the clutches released after the hand lever hasbeen moved as stated. The hand and foot clutch controlling mechanismjust described is intended to be utilized for the purpose of throwingthe clutches out of action after they have been in operative conditionfor lifting the scraper pan, and the description of the machine will beresumed with the clutch members being understood to be in activeengagement with each other and the hand lever 15 out of engagement withthe keeper bar 17, as illustrated in Fig. III.

22 designates the pan of the scraper which is pivotally connected to therear portion of the running gear by resistance bars 23', the forwardends of which are pivoted to the pan at 24, see Figs. I and V, wherebythe resistance bars, while serving to restrain rearward movement of thepan in earth gathering action, permit tilting motion of the pan in orderthat it may be properly adjusted relative to the ground and elevated andtilted rearwardly for the purpose of dumping its contents.

25 designates framework surmounting the side beams 5 and serving aselevated supports for the scraper pan lifting and lowering mechanism.

26 is a winding shaft that is journaled in suitable bearing boxessupported by members of the framework 25 and to which shaft is connecteda pair of lift chains or other flexible members 27 that are attached tothe pan 22 near its forward end at 28. The winding shaft 26 is operatedin part by a sprocket wheel 29 fixed to it at one of its ends and whichreceives an endless drive chain 30 that leads thereto from the wheel 10of the clutch member 9 that is located at the corresponding side of thescraper. The winding shaft is also operated through the medium of anendless drive chain 30 that is operable upon the wheel of the clutchmember 9 at the opposite side of the scraper from that just referred toand which cooperates with clutch mechanism associated with the windingshaft, as will now be set forth.

31, (see Fig. IX), is an inner clutch member keyed to the winding shaft26.

32 is a toothed clutch ring that receives the drive chain 30 and whichis provided internally with a shoulder face 33 adapted to receive theinner clutch member 31 in order that frictional engagement between theseparts may be obtained for the purpose of causing transmission of powerfrom said drive chain to the winding shaft 26.

36 is an outer clutch member located within the clutch ring 32 and isadapted to frictionally engage a shoulder face 34 of said clutch ringand which is adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with theshoulder face of the clutch ring through the medium of dogs 35 that bearagainst the outer face of said outer clutch member. The dogs 35 arepivoted to pins 38 that pass loosely through the outer clutch member 36and are seated in the inner clutch member 31 so that when the dogs aremoved to the outer clutch member 36, they act to move the clutch members31 and 36 respectively to the shoulder faces 33 and 34C of the clutchring 32. The winding shaft 26 has a reduced end, as seen in Fig. IX,which extends outwardly beyond the clutch members described and looselyfitted to this reduced end of the shaft is a collar 37 which bearsagainst the dogs 35. The collar 37 is adapted to be moved inwardly by anotched shifter 39 loosely mounted on the reduced end of the windingshaft, whereby the dogs 35 are carried inwardly with the result ofcausing the clutch members 31 and 36 to be forced by the dogs into firmcontactwith the opposing internal shoulder faces 33 and 3 1 of theclutch ring 32. Arranged opposite to the shifter 39 upon the reduced endof the winding shaft 26 and supported by a rigid member of the framework25 is a toothed member 40. The tooth of this member is adapted to bearagainst the outer end of the shifter 39, as seen in Figs. III and IX,when the described clutch mechanism is in operative position, and torest in the notch in the shifter when the clutch mechanism is out ofaction. Between the inner clutch member 31 and the dogs 35 is anexpansion spring 41, (see Fig. TX), by which said dogs are thrownoutwardly to permit of the release of gripping act-ion upon the clutch32 by the clutch members 31 and 36 upon the entrance of the tooth of themember 40 into the notch in the shifter 39. The shifter 39 is providedwith an arm 39 which is connected to a throw rod 42, (see Figs. 1, VIII,and IX), that leads to a hand lever 13 pivoted to a member of theframework 25, and which is provided with a latch that is adapted toengage a rack 4A supported by said framework. The parts ust mentionedprovide for the rotation of the shifter 39 on the reduced end of thewinding shaft 26, in order that the clutch mechanism controlled by saidshifter may be thrown into and out of ac tion. This clutch mechanism ismaintained in operative condition at all times, except when the frontend of the scraper pan 22 is to be lowered after it has been elevated,and at such time it is readily thrown out of ac tion to permit freerotation of the winding shaft 26.

It is desirable at times to elevate the front end of the scraper panmanually, in order that it may clear obstructions that may be present infront of it, and to provide for the lifting of the pan by manual power,I make use of the following parts: 45 is a hand lever extendingforwardly from the drivers seat 7, and pivot-ally connected at 46 to amember of the framework 25. This hand lever is normally supported by alift spring 47 connecting itto the framework. 48 is a push pawl pivotedto the hand lever 45 and 49 is a pull pawl pivoted to the pawl 48. Thesetwo pawls engage ratchet teeth 32 at the periphery of the clutch ring32, (see Figs. III, VIII and IX), to which they are yieldingly held by adraw spring 50. By raising and lowering the hand lever 45, the pawls 48and 49 may be operated to cause them to impart rotation to the clutchring 32, and the other clutch members associated with this ring being inoperative engagement therewith, the winding shaft 26 may be rotated towind the chains 27 thereon, and elevate the front end of the scraperpan. It should be noted that, previous to the wind.- ing operation ofthe shaft manually, as previously explained, the clutch associated withthe rear ground wheels 1 may be thrown out of action.

The rear end of the scraper 22 is supported by swinging supports 51,preferably chains. These swinging supports are secured at 52 to thescraper pan near its rear end and near the bottom of each. of the sidesof the pan, and the upper ends of the supports are attached to the sidebars 5 of the main frame of the scraper. The connection between thesupports 51 and the main frame is an adjustable one in order that thesupports may be shortened or lengthened to regulate the height of therear end of the scraper pan and this adjustment, where the supports arein the form of chains, is provided for by the use of notched hooks 53secured to the frame side bars 5 and which are adapted to receive linksof the chains, (see Figs. I, II, IV and VII).

The scraper pan 22 is open at its rear end to provide for contents ofthe pan being dumped rearwardly therefrom when the forward end of thepan is elevated through the medium of the winding shaft 26 and the partscoiiperable therewith. It should be here noted that when the forward endof the scraper pan is. elevated, the resistance bars 23 are elevated,and the rear end of the pan first swings forwardly from the position inwhich it is seen in Figs. I and V, as permitted by the swinging supports51, and then moves downwardly to provide for the pan occupying theposition shown in Fig. III, for the dumping of its contents.

54 designates an end gate by which the rear end of the scraper pan isclosed while the pan is being filled, and which is provided at its upperend with a pair of side arms 55, (see Figs. I and V), pivoted to thesides of the pan at 56, the pivotal points being located considerablyforward of the rear end of the scraper pan to provide for the end gatepartaking of a movement sufficient to completely open the back end ofthe pan. The scraper pan has secured to it at each of its sides a latchreceiving arm 57 which projects rearwardly beyond the sides of the pan,(see Figs. I and V), which are adapted to be engaged by means forholding the end gate in a closed position to be next described.

58 designates a latch rod rockably mounted in bearing boxes 59 securedto the end gate 54 and which is provided with arms (30 having horizontalextensions 61 which extend outwardly and over the resistance bars 23,the said extensions being provided with rollers 62 adapted to operate onthe resistance bars. The latch rod 58 is provided with an operatinglever 64 to which is connected one end of a controlling spring 65, theother end of said spring being connected at 66 to the end gate 54. 67 isa trip lever pivotally supported at 68, and which is united to the lever64 by a pull connect-ion 69. The rear arm of the trip lever 67 isprovided with a foot piece 70 upon which pressure may be exerted tooperate said trip lever, and, by moving the lever 57 upwardly, rotatethe latch rod 58, so that the horizontal extensions 61 of its arms 60are withdrawn from the position in which they are seen in Figs. I and V.hen the end gate is in closed position, as seen in Figs. I and V, theparts just described occupy the positions in which they are seen inthese views, and also in Fig. VII, at which time the horizontalextensions 61 of the arms of the latch rod 58, beii gpi-esent beneaththe latch receiving arms 57 carried by the sides of the scraper pan,while the rollers 62 rest upon the resistance bars 23. It will thereforebe seen that the end gate is efficiently maintained in a closed positionthrough the medium of the parts described, and it is maintained in suchclosed position until such time as it may be desired to open it to dumpthe contents of the scraper pan after it has been elevated. Thereleasing of the end gate is accomplished by the simple act of actuatingthe trip lever (37 to cause it to exert a pull upon the lever 64 topartially rotate the latch rod 58, with the result of withdrawing thehorizontal arms of the arms 60 from positions beneath the latchreceiving arms 57.

I provide in my scraper means for automatically throwing the clutchmembers associated with the ground wheels 1 out of action when theseclutches have been operated sufficiently to provide for the scraper panbeing elevated in a loaded condition, thereby relieving the driver oroperator of the necessity of throwing these clutches out of action atthe proper time, and avoiding the possibility of injury that would beincident lic to failure to release the clutches by the time that thescraper pan has been elevated to the greatest degree permissible by thelifting mechanism. The automatic release of said clutches isaccomplished by the following parts: 28 is a lever arm extendingrearwardly from the point of pivotal connec tion of one of theresistance bars 23 to the frame of the scraper, (see Figs. 111, TV, andV), and 71 is a flexible connection, preferably a chain, attached at oneend to said lever arm and its other end being attached to the lower endof the hand lever 15. The connection 71 operates upon a sheave 72supported by the rear axle 8, and said connection is preferably unitedto the lever 15 by an eye bolt 7 3 that extends through a box 7 1mounted in said lever, and has associated with it a cushion spring 75which provides for the connection 71 being a yielding one, in order thatthere may be no liability of its becoming broken by sudden or excessivedraft thereupon.

1 wish to next direct attention to the ad justing means which constitutethe connection between the operating rods 13 and the lever 15. Eachoperating rod 13 is provided at its inner end with a stem 13, (see VI),which passes loosely through a swivel box 15 mounted in the lever 15, asseen most clearly in Fig. V1, and upon the outer end of each stem is anadjusting nut 13 13 are cushion springs interposed between the swivelboxes 15 and shoulders 13 at the fiir euds of the stems 13. It will bereadily apparent that either operating rod 13 may be drawninwziidlymelative to the lever 15 when the nuts 13 are in oved inwardlyon the stems 13 and permitted to move outwardly relative to the lever 15when the nuts are moved in a reverse direction on the stems.Consequently the operating rods 13 may be each so adjusted relative tothe lever 15 as to provide for like movement of each clutch member 9toward the clutch member 8 that cooperates with it, in order that bothof clutches operated from the ground wheels 1 may be properly placedinto operative positions.

In the practical use of my scraper, the operation is, in general, asfollows: When the scraper pan is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1,1V, V, and V11, the parts of the nachine are in position for service ingathering a load of earth into the pan. At this timethe clutch membersassociated with the rear ground walls and rear axle are out of action.It should be assumed that the hand lever 15 is in the position shown inFig. 111, so that the catch pin 20 is directly above the pivot 16 of thelever 15. in which position it is held by the links 20 connecting thekeeper bar to the lever 15 and upheld by the lift spring 21, whereby theaxle carried. clutch members 9 are held out of engage ment with thewheel carried clutch members 8. Now when the scraper pan, has beenfilled, the operator depresses the keeper bar 17 and moves the lever 15to actuate the operating rods 15, with the result of carrying the clutchmembers 9 into engagement with the wheel clutch members 8. The clutchmembers 9 are then permitted to impart movement to the drive chains 30and 30, and said. drive chains transmit motion to the winding shafts 26,with the result of winding the lift chains 27 upon said shaft to elevatethe scraper pan. The operator in moving the lever 15 to throw the clutchmembers 9 into engagement with the clutch members 8 shifts it from theposition in which it is seen in Fig. 111 to the position shown in Fig.1V, whereby the links 20 are swung to the position in which they areseen in Fig. 1V, and the catch pin is entered into the notch 19 in theiceper bar 17 to act as a restraining member with respect to the handlever 15. As has previously been stated, the scraper pan 22 partakes ofan upward and forward movement when it is elevated and tilted into loaddumping position. its a consequence of this movement, the lever arm 23extending rearwardly from the point of pivotal attachment of one of theresistance bars 23 to the main frame of the scraper is moved downwardlyand forwardly from the position in which it is seen in Fig. 1V. As thislever arm partakes of the movement mentioned, it exerts, at the propermoment, a pull upon the connection 71 whereby said connection is causedto exert a pull upon the lower end of the lever 15 after the scraper panhas been elevated to a predetermined degree, and with the result ofcausing said lever 15 to be thrown from the position in which it is seenin Fig. 1V to that in which it is seen in Fig.

1 o cause release of the clutch members 9 from the clutch members 8,without the necessity of the driver or operator actuating the lever 15manually. The clutch members 9 having been disengaged from the clutchmembers 8, it will be seen that the catch pin 20 occupies such positionrelative to the point of pivotal support of the lever 15, when in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. TV, as to permit of its beingforced out of the notch 19 in the keeper bar 17 when a strong pull isexerted upon said lever by the connection 71, notwithstanding the factthat said catch pin affords sufficient resistance to hold the lever 15from movement at any other time while it is present in the notch in thekeeper bar. The only further action necessary to dump the load gatheredby the scraper pan is the actuation of the trip lever 67 to release thelatch device actuable thereby, in order that the end gate 5 1- of thescraper pan may swing into open position. The operation of these partshas been hereinbefore fully set forth. It should be further noted withrespect to the operation of this scraper that when the scraper pan iselevated and the forward ends of the resistance bars are carriedupwardly therewith, said resistance bars are carried into firm andpositive engagement with the rollers 62 carried by the arms of the lockrod 58, (from which they have been previously separated, althoughlocated beneath the latch receiving arms 57) and, as a consequence, thehorizontal extensions of said arms become clamped between the resistancebars and the latch receiving arms to remain in such clamped conditionfor the purpose of holding the end gate closed until such time as it isdesired to release the end gate and dump the load from the scraper pan,which releasing action is accomplished by the actuation of the latch rodin the manner previously explained.

I claim 1. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, arunning gear to which said pan is attached and which includes a groundwheel, a swinging member movable with said pan, a clutch adapted toreceive power from said ground wheel, mechanism actuated by said clutchfor elevating said scraper pan, and means connecting said swingingmember and a member of said clutch whereby said clutch is automaticallythrown out of action when the pan is elevated, substantially as setforth.

2. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear which includes a ground wheel, a rigid member pivoted to said panand to said running gear, a clutch adapted to receivepower from saidground wheel, mechanism actuated by said clutch for elevating saidscraper pan, and means connected to said rigid member and to a member ofsaid clutch adapted to automatically throw said clutch out of actionwhen said pan is elevated, substantially as set forth.

3. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear to which said pan is attached and which includes a ground wheel, aresistance bar pivotally connecting said pan to said running gear andwhich is provided with a lever arm, a clutch adapted to receive powerfrom said ground wheel, mechanism actuated by said clutch for elevatingsaid scraper pan, and means providing connection between said lever armand a member of said clutch whereby the clutch is thrown out of actionwhen the pan is elevated, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear including a ground wheel, a resistance bar pivotally connected tosaid pan and to said running gear, a clutch adapted to receive powerfrom said ground wheel, mechanism actuated by said clutch for elevatingsaid scraper pan, and means whereby said clutch is automatically thrownout of action, comprising a flexible connection between said resistancebar and a member of said clutch.

5. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear frame, a resistance bar pivotally connected to said pan and to saidrunning gear frame and which is provided-with a lever arm, an axlemounted in said ground wheel and forming a support for said frame, aclutch, the members of which are carried by said ground wheel and axle,means operated by said. clutch for elevating said scraper pan, andflexible means operable through the medium of the lever arm of saidresistance bar for automatically throwing said clutch out of operation.

6. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear to which said pan is attached and which includes a ground wheel, aclutch adapted to receive power from said ground wheel which comprises ashiftable member, an operating rod, for the shiftable member of saidclutch, a lever connected to said operating rod, means for holding saidlever in a stationary position, a resistance bar pivotally connected tothe running gear and scraper pan and movable with said pan, andmechanism actuated by said clutch for elevating said scraper pan, and aconnection between said resistance bar and said lever whereby said leveris actuated to impart movement to said operating rod and automaticallythrow said clutch out of action when said scraper pan is elevated.

7. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear to which said pan is attached, and which includes a ground wheel, aclutch adapted to receive power from said ground wheel and whichcomprises a movable member, an operating rod for the movable member ofsaid clutch, a lever to which said operating rod is connected, mechanismactuated by said clutch for elevating said scraper pan, a keeper havingpivotal connection with said lever adapted to restrain it from movement,and means operable in conjunction with said scraper pan whereby saidlever is released from the restraining influence of said keeper and isactuated to move the operating rod to disengage the movable clutchmember from the clutch member companionable therewith.

8. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear to which said pan is attached, and which includes a ground wheel, aclutch adapted to receive power from said ground wheel and whichcomprises a movable member, an operating rod for the movable member ofsaid clutch, a lever to which said operating rod is connected, mechanismactuated by said clutch for elevating said scraper pan, a keeper havingpivotal connection wlth said lever adapted to restraln 1t from movement,means operable in conjunction With said scraper pan whereby said. leveris released from the restraining influence of said keeper and isactuated to move the operating rod to disengage the movable clutchmember from the clutch member companionable therewith, the pivotalconnection between said lever and keeper comprising a catch pin carriedby said lever and a link pivoted to said catch pin and said keeper.

9. The combination With a scraper pan and an end gate pivoted thereto,of means for holding said end gate in a closed position, said meanscomprising a rockable latch rod between its top and bottom, carried bythe end gate and having arms, the said latch rod extending transverselyof the end gate, and latch receiving arms carried by said scraper pan atits sides, and adapted to be moved into engagement with said latch rodarms.

10. The combination with a scraper pan and an end gate pivoted thereto,of a latch rod rockably supported by said end gate and provided withcrank arms, the said latch rod extending transversely of the end gatebetween its top and bottom, latch receiving arms carried by said scraperpan at its sides, and adapted to receive the arms of said latch rod, andmeans for imparting partial rotation to said latch rod, to move its armsout of engagement with said latch receiving arms.

11. In a wheeled scraper, the combination of a scraper pan, a runninggear, a pair of resistance bars pivotally connected to said pan and tosaid running gear, an end gate pivotally connected to said scraper pan,latch receiving arms carried by said scraper pan and located above saidresistance bars, and a rockable latch rod carried by said end gate andhaving arms adapted to be moved into position between said resistancebars and latch receiving arms to hold said end gate in a closedposition.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 12thday of November, 1909.

JOHN H. GERBER.

In the presence of M. C. HAMMON, E. B. LINN.

